Alt Firmware Flashing -> use CCLoader instead of CCLib

[Domochip]

I tried CCLib to flash firmware, but got too much problems and flashing time took many hours

I discovered that using CCLoader that works very fine and flash took a few minutes...
https://github.com/RedBearLab/CCLoader

I needed to use Z-Stack-Firmware .hex file, convert it using hex2bin then flash it using CCLoader_x86_64.exe

[Koenkk]

Great, I think there is still a usecase for CCLib as CCLoader only seems to support windows.

Could you make a pr to update the documentation? (https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee2mqtt/blob/master/docs/information/alternative_flashing_methods.md#via-arduinoesp8266)

[momo90-2]

Is ccloader working for a cc2531 or cc2530 stick?
Is it necessary to convert the hex file via hex2bin or can the bin file be used which is provided in the zip archives here https://github.com/Koenkk/Z-Stack-firmware/tree/master/coordinator?

Using hex2bin with the hex files provided in the zip files causes an error.
Edit: using srec_cat.exe to convert the hex to bin file works and I think sorts the records in ascending address order (maybe because of that hex2bin didnt work). Havent yet tried CCloader to upload...

[momo90-2]

I have testet CCloader but it didnt work for me (although it should work according to the datasheet of cc254X and cc253X). What i did:

1. used srec_cat.exe to convert the .hex file from the archive from here https://github.com/Koenkk/Z-Stack-firmware/tree/master/coordinator/CC2531/bin to a bin file. srec_cat.exe warned that the hex is not in ascending address order and reordered it.
2. connected the cc2531 like described here https://github.com/RedBearLab/CCLoader, checked and measured the connection about 5 times. Connection was ok.
3. tried ccloader.exe and ccloader_x86_64.exe.
4. tried a Arduino and (without logic level converter) and a nodemcu (changed the pin definitions in the sketch)

ccloader connected to the arduino but, didnt find the chip. Error message "no chip detected", which means that ccloader cant communicate to the chip via DD. Apart from that ccloader said that the bin is corrupt. Havent tried the files from here https://github.com/mtornblad/zstack-1.2.2a.44539/tree/master/CC2531 yet. Maybe it is a power problem. Eventually i am going to power the cc2531 via usb instead of 3,3. Could also be the problem mentioned here #78 (comment)

Possible solution/to be tested:

1. using Arduino Uno with logic level converter
2. using hex from here https://github.com/mtornblad/zstack-1.2.2a.44539/tree/master/CC2531
3. power cc2531 via usb

[Nomsplease]

I got mine to flash without issue with CC_Loader, and it was much faster about 2-3 minutes.

I created PR 9 for this.

[Koenkk]

PR is merged, thanks all.

[AS137430]

@Nomsplease : you flashed the SBL .bin version of the firmware with CCLoader from here? By the way, CCLoader has Linux/Mac version as well. This fork works for ESP8266.

[Nomsplease]

@AS137430 Yes that is the firmware in the updated documentation. I tested this with a Uno/Windows. If you can get it to work on Linux/Max and an ESP reliably please update that documentation with any other steps necessary. It never hurts to have more options. :)

[AS137430]

@Nomsplease: Thanks for your clarifications on the bin file used. I already flashed my first CC2531 with the first Arduino/ESP method. But I am waiting for delivery of the second CC2531 (which is taking a while..) and will definitely try the CCLoader method since it is much faster and report back if I am successful with the ESP8266 on Linux.

[krikk]

i tried to flash my cc2531 with this new method (useing ESP8266, wemos D1 r2) and it seemed to work:

D:\ccloader>CCLoader_x86_64.exe 3 CC2531ZNP-Prod.bin 0
Copyright (c) 2013 RedBearLab.com
CCLoader_x86_64.exe version 0.5
Comport : COM3
Bin file: CC2531ZNP-Prod.bin
Device  : Default (e.g. UNO)

Comport open!
<Baud:115200> <data:8> <parity:none> <stopbit:1> <DTR:off> <RTS:off>

File open!
Block total: 468

Enable transmission...
Request sent already!
/********************************************************************/
* If there is no respond last for 3s, please press "Ctrl+C" to exit!
* And pay attention to :
*   1. The connection between computer and Arduino;
*   2. The connection between Arduino and CC2540;
*   3. Whether the device you using is Leonardo or not;
*   4. Other unexpected errors.
/********************************************************************/

Waiting for respond from Arduino...

Uploading firmware...

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File closed!
Comport closed!

but after "flashing" the stick seems to be dead... the led does no longer flash and i do not get a device if i connect it to the pc/raspberrypi :(

...re-flashing with the "old" alternative flashing method did revive the cc2531 stick, now it is blinking again :)

[AS137430]

but after "flashing" the stick seems to be dead... the led does no longer flash and i do not get a device if i connect it to the pc/raspberrypi :(

@Nomsplease : Did you have any similar issue?
#320
Is the SBL bin firmware supposed to be flashed only through SerialBootLoader??

[kianusch]

After playing around a bit, a few thoughts ...

Using the bin file from zigbee2mqtt repository will not work.
But you can convert the hex file to a bin file - under linux the command is:

$ objcopy --gap-fill 0xFF --pad-to 0x040000 -I ihex CC2531ZNP-Prod.hex -O binary CC2531ZNP-Prod.bin

$ ls -lt CC2531ZNP-Prod.*
-rw-rw-r-- 1 kianusch kianusch 262144 Mar 2 13:59 CC2531ZNP-Prod.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 kianusch kianusch 697099 Jan 29 19:23 CC2531ZNP-Prod.hex

objcopy is part of binutils package.

The resulting file can be passed to CCLoader for flashing:

$ /opt/CCLoader/SourceCode/Linux$ ./a.out /dev/ttyACM0 /tmp/CC2531ZNP-Prod.bin 1
Comport open:
Device: Leonardo

Baud:115200 data:8 parity:none stopbit:1 DTR:on RTS:off
File open success!
Warning: file size isn't the integer multiples of 512, last bytes will be set to 0xFF
Block total: 512
Enable transmission...
Request sent already! Waiting for respond...
Begin programming...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 Program successfully!
File closed!
Comport closed!

If CCLoader gets stuck at "Request sent already! Waiting for respond..." press CTRL-C and try changing the last parameter from 1 to 0 ... (also check your wiring)

$ /opt/CCLoader/SourceCode/Linux$ ./a.out /dev/ttyACM0 /tmp/CC2531ZNP-Prod.bin 0

This will set DTR to "off" during initialization phase.

Also - I adapted my CCLoader.inc and changed the pinout to have the pins in a row:

int DD = 2;
int DC = 3;
int RESET = 4;

This makes wiring more easy.

Hope this helps.

[AS137430]

@kianusch: Thanks for the detailed instructions especially the objcopy command. Is that an Arduino Pro Micro you are using? You are using GND and pins 2-4 from what I can make out for the picture. How is CC2531 powered?

[kianusch]

Yep - this is a Pro-Micro, I know, I soldered the pins on the wrong side :)
But Arduino UNO works as well.

And - yes:

Arduino -- CC2531

• GND -- GND [PIN 1]
• 3.3V -- VDD [2]
• Pin 2 -- DD [4]
• Pin 3 -- DC [3]
• Pin 4 -- RESET [7]

CC2531 can be powered via VDD (PIN1) - I tried 3.3V and 5V - both worked - but I'm not sure, if all CC2531 sticks are 5V save.
As an alternative CC2531 can also be powered via USB - after plugging in the Arduino, wait a few second and than plug in the CC2531. Be sure to use the correct USB device, the one where Arduino shows up, when starting CCLoader.

[AS137430]

@kianusch : Thanks. Will you raise a PR to update the wiki https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/information/alternative_flashing_methods.html?
@Koenkk : There are now more details on the CCLoader method for flashing. Please take a look, thanks.